Ben Kennedy Set for Camping World Truck Series Debut at Bristol

Most college students dread final exam week, but for University of Florida senior Ben Kennedy, this week of big tests is one that he’s been looking forward to for months. Kennedy has two big debuts this week as his racing career continues to build speed.

On Wednesday evening, the young Daytona Beach native will make a significant step up as he is set to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) debut in the UNOH 200 (Live/8:00 PM ET, Fox Sports 1) at Bristol Motor Speedway. The NCWTS race start is the first of four planned for Kennedy this season as he looks to gain experience in the category with an eager eye on the future.

Set to pilot the No. 96 ModSpace Motorsports/Fresh From Florida Chevrolet Silveradoon Wednesday evening, Kennedy will be making the move to the high banks on one of the toughest dates of the entire calendar. Bristol has long been known for staging the kind of races that earned NCWTS the reputation for being some of the closest racing in the sport.

“I can’t wait for Wednesday night,” said Kennedy. “Bristol is a place unlike anywhere else and to be making my Camping World debut there is just incredible. I know you have to be patient at Bristol, but of course I am hoping to bring the Turner Scott guys a good finish so hopefully I can find that balance, and learn a lot.”

Helping the young racer make the move up is a partnership with ModSpace and Fresh From Florida that will see the Silverado carry branding from both.

“It is great to have ModSpace and Fresh From Florida on board for this race, I’m grateful that they are part of this,” said Kennedy. “Bristol is a really exciting place, and we had the chance to test there a few weeks back. Even though the track conditions will be a little bit different this week, it is good to go into the race feeling like we will have a good starting point for when we unload, so I can’t wait.”

“ModSpace is very excited to partner with Ben Kennedy and Turner Scott Motorsports for this upcoming NCTS race at Bristol,” stated William Mann, Vice President of Motorsports for ModSpace. “Ben tested on this track and had some good results. He is a talented racer and we are pleased to be a part of this entire organization for this race.”

Once the checkered flag falls in Tennessee, Kennedy will immediately focus forward on his next challenge as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East heads to Virginia International Raceway (VIR) for the Biscuitville 125 on Sunday. The track has its own long legacy in the sport as it hosted some classic Trans-Am and IMSA races through the decades, was reopened in 2000 and has reestablished itself as a driver favorite. The VIR round is one of two road-racing (Road Atlanta, October 18) dates on the 2013 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East schedule and Kennedy has been eyeing the road course challenge for a long time.

“This is my first road course race in K&N, and I think it is going to be really important for the championship, especially with us having two road course races this season,” said Kennedy, who earlier this year was selected as one of the “NASCAR Next” drivers. “I’ve been working hard to be ready for them, racing on my computer and just trying to be in the best shape that I can be. I think it’s going to be a really fun place to race and hopefully we can make some ground up in the championship.”